DISCOURSEIN UTM 2015

MasterClass comprises of actors graduated from various schools of Architecture, now pursuing a Master of Architecture degree in UTM and the obvious significant displays from these actors are their ability to identify a critical issue to address via their design topic. Some went to the extend of proposing a full fledged institute of research such to be smacked upon a very small and delicate site surrounded by eco biodiversity landscapes of Tropical swampland. While, the better one would go for some very familiar proposal such as a wet market, without the unnecessary superfluous of complexities. Such is a display of the maturity of thoughts that the actors had inherited from their respective feeder schools.

DISCOURSEINUM2014

I stand dwarf among the Giants of Practicing Architects liked Lilian Tay, Suzanne, Sonny Chan and the rest but I find the similarity of concerns that the programmes are too generic and not much gravity was given to addressing issues and how one use Architecture as a mean to address such issues. There are plenty of efforts on technical skills but as compared to other institutions, credit is given to the use of model, computer rendering and sketches as tools for design.

DISCOURSE IN UTM 2014

The revisit shows a significant improvement in the product but lack the guts to go above the Brief. The Unit known as REFORM seems to be toned down to CONFORM. The presentations are very down to earth without any attempt to break through - the sky still look Blue and the Grass still look Green. The conceptualization through the abstract does not appear to be presence. Even the level of discourse are in the realm of the mundane. It truly lacks the aura of philosophical and sophisticated touch.

I am happy to be given the opportunity to be part of the academic circle. I am happy to have met a towering figure, Prof Tajuddin. I am happy to meet the actors in person. My observation is that there is a drop in quality across the board and the weakness stem from the inability of the actor to understand the issue sufficiently to enable one to formulate a scheme via the vehicle of architecture as a socio-cultural intervention. There is a sheer lack of maturity in thought and fear in presenting discourse confidently. It seems to me that these generations are locked up in a box of misguided democracy. Their inclination to work with Computer Aided Drafting has resulted in a myopic approach diminishing the very important aspect of Architecture of understanding of 3D spaces, experiential with materiality, communicating ideas via sketches and endless discourse. For such, they are the “zombies” our University has created. A revivalism of the production model is urgently called for.